each day the sun rises

The sun is hot on my back, too bright to look up in the clear blue sky. The air is thick and feels as if I can’t get enough oxygen. The wind is sporadic, but when it comes the breeze is cool and refreshing. The sound of the palm trees swaying in the wind and the birds chirping as they fly by. Cars continue to pass by, always honking and often hearing the sudden screech as a vehicle quickly stops themselves from hitting either the car in front of them, or the person running across to cross the street who more often then does without looking to see if cars are coming. The paved roads bordered with dirt sidewalks that are unsafe to walk on as there are boulders sticking out at random places and pot holes, every second step I am dodging from side to side trying not to trip from either a mound of dirt, boulder, or a pot hole. As I pass through the shops they are all eager to get me into their store, greeting me with “Karibu” which means welcome. Constantly trying to get me to buy something, giving me their “best” price, and in the end either reducing it far below their asking price, or not budging at all, and not getting the sale. The kids on the side of the road are pointing and smiling at us, sometimes running after the Bajaj that I am in. Waving, and having the most incredible smile on their faces as they stare and run after us. For some this is their first time seeing a mzungu, and for others this could be a part of their regular every day routine. Sometimes when they do this I feel like I am more important then I actually am, like I am some sort of celebrity

Throughout my time here in Tanzania I have been reminded daily of how blessed I am, of how blessed we all are. Not only because we can afford to buy clothes, eat good food, live under a roof, drive a car, but because we have the ability to do whatever we want, if we want to. Because we have the option of doing anything, we have the choice to choose the life we want to live. Here in Tanzania they don’t get the chance to choose, they often don’t even have the opportunity to be anything more.

Each day is a blessing to be breathing on this beautiful Earth, whether in Tanzania, South Africa, New York, Seattle, Abbotsford, or anywhere else in the World.

Everyday is a new beginning and each day the sun rises we have the choice to make something great of it.